HEALTH chiefs branded a landlord who repossessed a doctors’ surgery in a row over unpaid rent as “reckless”.

Wirral Primary Care Trust accused Wayne Roberts of “unacceptable” behaviour after he shut GPs and nurses out of Sandstone Medical Centre, in West Kirby, on Friday night.

Officials also confirmed they are taking legal advice about how they can “protect the interests” of patients.

The repossession left surgery staff working from their car boots opposite the Banks Road surgery redirecting patients to other NHS services.

Mr Roberts said he had “attempted to resolve matters amicably” but claimed the practice’s doctors “simply do not wish to pay a commercial rent”.

He also criticised NHS Wirral, claiming it was “kept fully informed of all developments but has singularly made no effort whatsoever to protect the interests of their patients”.

But a PCT spokesman said: “Mr Roberts has acted in an arbitrary and reckless manner. Irrespective of his issues with the practice, it is unacceptable to deny doctors and patients access to both the premises and their medical records.”

Mr Roberts’ solicitor Peter Devine said: “My client has not been reckless or acted in an arbitrary fashion.

“My client regrets patients have been inconvenienced but that is not his fault.”